• Updated with new information since originally published.
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  • Our editors recommend these diverse local experiences.

1. Quail Hill Trailhead ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Courtesy of Aaron - Fotolia.com

2. Ridgeline Trail ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Courtesy of vadimvt - Fotolia.com

3. Sitton Peak Trail

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Courtesy of Uwe Albert-Thiele - Fotolia.com

4. Chiquito Falls Trail

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Courtesy of prudtinai - Fotolia.com

5. Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Courtesy of steffstarr - Fotolia.com

6. Black Star Canyon

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7. Carbon Canyon Regional Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Courtesy of Olonkho - Fotolia.com

8. Colinas Bluff Trail

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Courtesy of bilanol - Fotolia.com

9. El Modena Open Space

© Courtesy of Nikolai Link - Fotolia.com

10. Falls Canyon Trailhead

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
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11. Modjeska Peak Hike

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Courtesy of Tomasz Zajda - Fotolia.com

12. Orange Hills Trail

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Courtesy of Drepicter - Fotolia.com

13. Peters Canyon Regional Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Courtesy of delkoo - Fotolia.com

14. Las Ramblas Trail

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Courtesy of Melpomene - Fotolia.com

15. Red Rock Canyon

© Courtesy of David Smith - Fotolia.com

16. Roadrunner Loop Trail

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Courtesy of Sergiy Serdyuk - Fotolia.com

17. Salt Creek Trail

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Courtesy of satoru - Fotolia.com

18. Santiago Oaks Regional Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Courtesy of kieferpix - Fotolia.com

19. Small Peak

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Courtesy of YariK - Fotolia.com

20. Top of the World

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21. Tour de Trestles

Tours in the Area
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22. Upper Newport Bay Nature Reserve

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Courtesy of steffstarr - Fotolia.com

23. Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park

Category: Weekend Activities & Fun Outdoors
© Courtesy of anzebizjan - Fotolia.com

Summary and Frequenly Asked Questions:

The Orange County area has great weather and spectacular diverse natural surroundings that range from mountain ranges to the coast of the Pacific. Many trails start in the urban areas and quickly bring hikers to a completely different world of peace with nothing but the sound of birds and the wind. Most trails are open to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders.

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